Summary

Efficiency of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) programs relies heavily on accurate reservoir models. Movement of miscible carbon dioxide (CO2) injected into a thin (approx. 5 m), shallow-shelf, oomoldic carbonate reservoir around 900 m deep in Russell County, Kansas, was successfully monitored using high-resolution 4D/time-lapse seismic techniques. High resolution seismic methods showed great potential for incorporation into CO2-flood management, highlighting the necessity of frequently updated reservoir-simulation models, especially for carbonates. Use of an unconventional approach to acquisition and interpretion of the high-resolution time-lapse/4D seismic data was key to the success of this monitoring project.

Weak-anomaly enhancement of selected non-inversion, 4D-seismic attribute data represented a significant interpretation development and proved key to seismic monitoring of CO2 movement. Also noteworthy was the improved definition of hetrogeneities affecting the expanding flood bank. Among other findings, this time-lapse seismic feasibility study demonstrated that miscible CO2 injected into a shallow, thin carbonate reservoir could be monitored, even below the classic temporal seismic resolution limits.

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